Capsule crimping apparatus



July 22, 1958 Filed Sept. 6, 1956 M. A. LAVIGNE 2,843,987

CAPSULE CRIMPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1770x2122?" M/c/ma A? [IV/GIVE July 22, 1958 M. A. LAVIGNE 2,843,987-

CAPSULE; CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 2, 1958 M. A. LAVIGNE 2,843,987

- CAPSULE CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. s, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,7/7u 6/12 57" M/r/MH r7. [AW/GIVE July 22, 1958 M. A. LAVIGNE 2,843,937

CAPSULE CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6, 1956 4 SheetsHSheet 4 United States The present invention relates to apparatus for sealing and labelling bottles. More specifically, the invention is concerned with an apparatus adapted for the automatic crimping on of lead foil sealing capsules on the top of bottles.

Metallic foil capsules or caps have been commonly used for the final sealing of bottles for some time. The smooth and effective crimping of these capsules about the top and neck of a bottle has long presented a problem to industry. This is particularly true when the crimping operation is carried out as a production step in a continuous bottle sealing and labelling line-production set-up.

The present invention aims to provide an apparatus capable of automatically performing the crimping on of such sealing capsules and which can be placed right in the production assembly line of standard bottle labelling machinery.

The main elements of the capsule crimping mechanism of the invention consists of opposed pairs of cooperating crimper blocks which are mounted on opposed reciprocal air operated pistons, and supported so as to be brought into contact with opposite sides of the upper portion of a bottle being fed along a bottle labelling production line, and upon which a metallic foil capsule has already been placed.

In accordance with the apparatus of the invention, the opposed crimper blocks each include two semi-circular divided crimping jaws which are supported within the blocks for a trans-axial opening and closing movement,

as well as a crimping action in the axial direction. The

inner faces of these jaws are provided with inflatable means, preferably a hollow rubber pad, so that in addition to the mechanical force supplied by the piston operated movable crimper jaws, additional crimping and moulding force is applied by the rubber pads by the injection of air into the interior of each pad.

Means in the form of axially disposed resiliently biased sliding plates are also provided in each crimper block half which operate after the block halves have been closed about the neck of the bottle to finalize the crimping action and avoid the formation of a fold line or ridge along the diametric center line of the capsule, as would normally occur by the bringing together of two equal semi-circular half sections.

Means are also provided for applying further pressure to a portion of the capsule in alignment with the ridges or grooves normally provided in a bottle neck, so as to further press this portion of the capsule into smooth fitting engagement with the bottle neck.

A main feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the individual crimping blocks or jaws. These are each made in two equal arcuate seg ments hingedly connected for piovtal movement about a central axis aligned with the axis of the piston or plunger on which each jaw is mounted. With this construction the action of each jaw, as it contacts the neck atent filice 2,843,937. Patented July 22,

of a bottle, is to make first contact with the capsule at the center or joining point of the jaw halves. As the jaws advance the arcuate segments of each jaw are pivoted about this central hinge point into the desired complete semi-circular formation and progressively smooth or Wipe any surplus material from the first contact point on the capsule outwardly to the ends of the jaw or the diainetrical center line of the capsule corresponding with the mating faces of the opposed jaw halves.

This inherent crimping or smoothing action of the divided jaws also make it possible to utilize a similar slightly modified jaw or jaws, also mounted on reciprocating pistons in a further labelling operation, namely, to smooth on a pre-located and adhesively applied label or labels on a bottle simultaneously with the capsule crimping operation.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a sealing capsule mountedon a bottle prior to the crimping operation.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the capsule as it would appear when completely crimped into sealing contact with the bottle.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a typical capsule crimping station on a label applying apparatus modified and including crimping apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a view of a portion of Figure 3 along the line 4--4 showing in plan slightly modified jaw assemblies of the invention as may be utilized for pre-pasted and pre-located label application.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in plan of an opposed pair of capsule crimping jaws according to the invention and in closed position.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 with the capsule crimping jaws shown in withdrawn or open position.

Figure 7 is a partially sectional view in side elevation of the jaw construction shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 7 along the line $-8.

Figure 9 is a sectional view corresponding in location to Figure 8 with the crimping jaws shown in open position.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 5 along the line 10-10 to show the relative position of the operative elements of the crimping jaws as applied in closed condition to a bottle sealing capsule.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view in section of one inflatable rubber jaw lining to show the construction in more detail including the connection to a source of air under pressure.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view in section of one crimping jaw arrangement showing the preferred attaching means for an inflatable rubber jaw lining.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one inflatable jaw lining and associated side wiper blade.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail View partially in section. of the lost motion arrangement on the reciprocating piston slides permitting the final crimping action.

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail View of one wiper blade and actuating pins.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 3 shows an opposed pair of crimper jaws in accordance with the invention closed and in crimping engagement with a capsule topped bottle fed along the moving conveyor of a labelling machine. At this point, and in the construction illustrated, the bottle is securely held in aligned position by a further opposed pair of slightly modified jaws which in the construction shown, as will be explained later, are employed to smooth down and finally apply pro-applied pasted labels. An upper bottle holding arrangement, in the form of a holding cup (indicated in dotted lines) comes down on the top portion of the bottle so as to push the capsule down into position on the neck of the bottle prior to the crimping operation. This upper bottle engaging element is standard in label applying set-ups.

The present capsule crimping mechanism is shown as being mounted directly on the existing standards of the labelling machine with connections being made to the reciprocating slide of the existing apparatus, usually airoperated, and extending to the actuating slides of the present mechanism.

It will be appreciated that the present crimping mechanism could be used separately without any connection to an existing labelling apparatus, providing an air or hydraulically operated cylinder were connected to the actuating slides.

With specific reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically the upper portion of a bottle A with a foil capsule B shown as loosely applied and crimped into sealing contact with the bottle respectively.

In the overall arrangement shown in Figure 3, and 12 indicate fluid operated cylinder and piston arrangements which are part of the usual labelling apparatus. The piston 11 of the cylinder arrangement 10 is connected to a lower reciprocating slide 14 which is mounted for sliding movement in a bearing 16 supported on a standard 13. The standard 18 also supports a bearing 20 and an upper reciprocating slide 22 is mounted in this bearing'in substantial alignment with the slide 14. The slides 14 and 22 are coupled together by a plate 24 so that the inward and outward movements of the piston 11 move both slides simultaneously. A similar arrangement is provided in the opposite side of the apparatus. The piston 13 of the cylinder arrangement 12 is connected to the lower slide 26 and the slide 26 is coupled to the upper slide 28 by a plate 3%. Bearings 32, 34 are provided in a supporting standard 19 to guide the movement of the slides 26, 28.

As previously described, the bottles to be treated are fed in controlled sequence along a conveyor line, not shown, to a station C where they are located in alignment between the opposed standards l3, 19. The desired operation of crimping the capsule B to the bottle A is accomplished by the simultaneous engagement of opposed pairs of crimping jaws 42a, 42b mounted on die blocks a, 40b, and supported by the respective reciprocal slides 22, 28.

Crimping jaw assembly A main feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the die blocks 40a, 40b and the respective crimping jaws 42a, 4217. These are shown in detail in Figures 5 through 10 in open and closed condition.

Since the die blocks 40a, 40b, and the crimping jaws 42a, 425, are identical we shall describe one set only in detail. Each die block, say 40a, includes a T-shaped recess 46 for adjustable connection with the corresponding reciprocal slide, as will be described in more detail later, and a semi-circular recess 48 adapted to accommodate the respective pair 42a of crimping jaws. The individual jaws in each pair are formed so as to have a plurality of spaced apart hinge sections 50 which are interleafed one within the other and retained in position by a hinge pin 52. The combined jaws 42a are retained within the recess 48 by links 51 pivotally connected between the jaw portions and the ends of the die block 40a surrounding the recess 48. The links 51 are provided adjacent the top and bottom of each die block and each link includes an elongated slot 53 in the end attached to the block. Pins 54 provided in the die block pass through each slot 53 so as to provide a sliding and pivotal connection allowing the jaw halves to spread relative to the central hinge when retracted from the engaged position.

The inward and outward movements of the jaws 4211 are guided, and with respect to the opening movement resiliently biased by the following arrangement. Slide pins 61 provided with eyed ends 62, are engaged with the hinge pin 52 by interleaving between the jaw segments, see Figure 10, with the pins slidably fitting within corresponding borings 64 provided in the die block 40a. The recesses 64 are counter bored so as to accommodate resilient coil springs 65, which slidably fit over the pins 60 and act against the jaw halves along the hinge line to force the center portion of the combined pair of jaws outwardly when the die block Et a is retracted into open position. This, in combination with the links 51, ensures that the jaws 42a, 42b, will be opened slightly beyond their true semi-circular formation so as to constantly present the center portion of the jaws first against the side of the capsule to be crimped.

The inner faces of the combined jaws are provided with hollow rubber pads '78 which are secured to the forming faces '72 of the jaws 4201, so that in addition to the mechanical force supplied by the movable crimper jaws, additional crimping and moulding force is applied through the rubber pads by his injection of air into the interior of each pad. As shown most clearly in Figures 11 and 12, the interior of the pads 70 is hollow and pressurized air is supplied through a conduit 7 d which extends through one of the jaw halves and through the outer wall of the rubber pads '70.

It is also contemplated that additional resilient means, for example in the form of fiat springs suitably contoured, could be provided in the jaws directly in alignment with the central hinge and behind each rubber pad 70 to ensure that the central portion of the pad was the first to contact the capsule in the jaws crimping movement.

Means for applying further pressure to the portion of the capsule in alignment with the ridges or grooves. normally provided in the bottle neck are also provided in the form of center sliding portions 3M, 8%, which, as shown best in Figures 8 and 9, comprise of two separate segment fitted between the hinging segments of the jaws 42a, which are recessed accordingly. in order that the sliding sections 89a, b can move beyond the normal interior contour of the jaws did when fully closed, the

openings 34 in these segments, through which the hinge pin 52 passes, are elongated and the back portion of the sliding sections 80a, 8%)!) extends beyond the back contour of the jaws 42a. A slide pin 9t? is mounted within the die block 4911 in alignment with the rear portions of the sliding members 88a, 86).; and is adapted to come into positive engagement with an abutment 32 provided on each of the upper slides 22 and 28.

By this arrangement, the movement of the sliding members 80a, 30b occurs only when the jaws are fully closed.

It will be appreciated that the upper portion of each jaw pairs 42(1 or 4212 containing the sliding sections 80a, 8%, can be made as separate removable portions so that the position of the sections $0.11, Shh, could be varied if necessary to suit various heights 0r shapes of bottles to which the capsules are to be applied.

In combination with this final movement to effect the complete crimping, means in the form of slide plates are also provided in each pair of crimping jaws which operate after the jaws are completely closed and almost simultaneously, but slightly after the final movement of the sliding members 36a, 80b, to finalize the crimping action and avoid the formation of a fold line or ridge along the diametric centre line of the capsule, as would normally occur by the bringing together of two semicircular half sections.

These slide plates 1%, in a preferred form shown in detail in Figures 13 and 15, each comprise of a fiat bar to which there is attached in spaced apart relationship guiding and supporting pins 102. The respective jaws of the jaw pairs 42a, 42b are each provided with a recess 104a, 1104b bordering the outer edge of the interior jaw formation to accommodate the slide bar 100 and corre sponding borings or openings to slidably accommodate the supporting pins 102. The recesses 104a, 1114b accommodate the slide plates 1% almost exactly so that in the open position there is no protrusion of the slide plates 1% beyond opposed faces of the jaw pairs 42a, 42b. The length of the supporting pins 102 is such that they protrude beyond the rear surface of the combined crimping jaws in a similar manner to the slide plates 80a, 80b. Accordingly, when the jaw halves are closed, the last motion of the die blocks 40a, 40b brings the semi-circular surfaces d8 against the end of the slide pins 102 forcing the slide plates 100 across the medial center line of the mating jaws so as to wipe any surplus material gathered at this point smoothly into the conformation of the bottle.

As will be appreciated, the slide plates 100 are mounted on diametrically opposed jaw halves of the jaw pairs 120, Mb so that one slide plate 100 acts on one side of the capsule in one direction, while the other slide plate 100 acts in a similar manner but on the opposite side of the capsule and in the opposite direction. The resilient rubber pads '71? allow the forward edge of the respective slide plates 109 to pass beyond or into the opposing jaw half.

This final motion is delayed by suitable mechanical means, for example the arrangement shown in Figure 14. in this arrangement the slide bar 28 is in two portions with the front portion 165, which is engaged directly with the die block recess 46, including a shaft extension 106 which fits within a corresponding boring108 provided in the main slide bar member 110. The boring 138 is considerably tlonger than the shaft portion 106 and a coil spring 112 is mounted in the free portion of the boring 103 so as to act against the end of the shaft portion 106. The amount of lost motion is controlled by a pin 114 engaging with an elongated groove 116 provided in the shaft portion 106, so that advancement of the respective slide assemblies 28 through the coil spring 112 completely closes the jaws, 42a, 42b, in the crimping motion and then the continued advancement of the slides 22, 28 compresses the respective spring 112 so that the pin 114 acts directly on the extended shaft portion 106, moving the die blocks 42a, 42b into final position, actuating the indenting sliding portions 80a, 80b and the slide plates 100 to finalizethe crimping action.

It will be noted that the die blocks 40a, 401) do not extend as far as the opposed mating faces of the crimping jaws Ma, 42b so that sufiicient clearance space is provided between the die blocks to permit these final crimping actions.

With respect to the arrangements shown, the slides 14, 22, 26, 28 are each provided with an enlargement or collar 31 at the end connecting with the respective die blocks which slidably fits within the T-shaped recesses. This permits for adjustment of the die blocks relative to the bottle to be processed. Set screws 33 are provided in each die block, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, so that the die blocks can be secured to the slide ends 31 at the desired height.

Operation The present capsule crimping operation is shown most clearly in the section of Figure 8 wherein the opposed die blocks 40a, 4. have now been actuated towards each other by the respective slide arms 22, 28, and the opposed crimper jaws 42a, 42b have been brought together so that the opposed inner rubber pads 70 are wrapped around the neclt of the bottle. Since the crimper jaws .2a, 42b, are centrally hinged, the initial motion v/ith respect to the capsule to be crimped was to conabout the neck of a bottle,

tact and crimp or smooth down the material of the cap sule from diametrically opposed central points towards opposite diametrically opposed points, coinciding with the meeting line of the crimper jaws.

With the blocks in this closed position, fluid under pressure, preferably air, is supplied to the interior of the rubber pads '70 so as to provide additional pressure for the crimping operation.

Almost simultaneously with the closing of the jaws and the application of air pressure to the pads 70, the sliding portions a, 8%, are advanced so as to more tightly crimp or smooth the portion of the capsule overlying the usual bead or flange in the neck of the bottle. Again, the surplus material is moved towards the diametrically opposed meeting line of the crimper jaws. As

the final motion, through the arrangment described above, slide plates are then brought across the central meeting line of the engaged jaws so as to crimp or wipe over any surplus material at the diametric center line. This completes the crimping action.

With particular reference to Figures 3 and 4, slightly modified arrangements of die blocks a, 120b, and crimper jaws 142a, 142b, are shown as being utilized to finalize the application of labels to the sides of the bottle simultaneously with the capsule crimping operation.

It should be explained that in the normal labelling procedure, a standard mechanism is employed whereby the labels are pro-pasted and applied to the sides of the bottle with the main pressure being along the center line of the label so that while the label is adhesively supported in the desired position, it has, as a further operation, to be smoothed out and the surplus adhesive disposed or of distributed to the outer edges of the label. Otherwise, air migrates between the label and the bottle causing an imperfect adhesion and an undesirable appearance to the finished product.

Normally, there are a number of devices which oncounter labels in sequence to accomplish this end result. With the modified arrangement of crimper jaws according to the present invention, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, this desired end result can be accomplished as mentioned above in a single operation and, if desired, simultaneously with the capsule crimping operation. The modification to the crimper jaws of the invention previously described in detail is merely the elimination of the sliding members 80a, 80b, which are not required for labelling purposes, and the sliding plates 100. There is also no need to provide for any lost motion elfect since the labels are usually applied to only one side of the bottle and any surplus adhesive will be pressed from the center of the label to the outer edges corresponding with the diametric meeting line of the crimper jaws.

It will be appreciated that due to the particular construction of the type of crimper jaw in accordance with the present invention, the center portion of the crimper jaws 142a, 14212, which are provided with rubber pads 170, first meets the center line of the label of the bottle. The gradual closing of the jaws smooths the label around the bottle and presses the adhesive over the center line outwardly towards each edge so that the iabel is firmly and smoothly applied with all air being squeezed out from beneath the labels surface.

It will be noted that in the construction illustrated, the die block 120a and associated jaws 142a, are considerably narrower than the opposed die block 12017 and associated jaws 14211 This is to illustrate the applying of two labels of different sizes simultaneously to the bottle. It will be understood that if only a single label is to be applied only one die block and set of jaws may be utilized, providing there is some means opposing the die block and jaws to retain the bottle against displacement during the label applying operation.

While it is appreciated that the applying of labels differs somewhat from the crimping of a foil capsule the same motion is required by the crimper jaws to effect the smoothing of the material from a center line outwardly to a point where it can be disposed of.

In the case of the crimping operation, this is accomplished by the wiper plates 100 and in the case where jaws of this nature are utilized for labelling purposes, the surplus adhesive would be cleaned from the bottle by a further operation, not illustrated. In any event, the desired result is achieved through the arrangement which comprises a main feature of the present invention; viz., the particular construction and arrangement of the crimper jaws described in the present application.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for crimping deformable metal foil capsules about the neck of abottle comprising, a pair of opposed crimping jaws mounted for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other in a substantially horizontal plane, each of said opposed jaws being in two centrally hingedly interconnected portions having inner surfaces constituting semi-circular segments which when combined in closed position provide an internal contour of circular conformation corresponding to the external contours of a bottle, a resilient lining in each of said jaws inner surfaces adapted to engage a capsule covering the surface of the upper portion of a bottle placed between said jaws as they are moved towards each other, the advance of said jaws into contact with a bottle being adapted to compress said resilient lining whereby said jaws meet centrally along a diametric center line relative to said bottle and completely surround the upper portion of said bottle to crimp a deformable capsule placed thereon into sealing contact therewith.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jaw portions when in open position constitute two arcuate segments with said central hinge point extending inwardly of said formation.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are resilient means normally urging said hingedly interconnected jaw portions to said open position.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interior of each of said jaw linings is hollow and air pressure means are connected into each of said linings.

5. In an apparatus for crimping deformable capsules about the neck of a bottle, a pair of opposed crimping jaws mounted for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other in a substantially horizontal plane, each of said opposed crimping jaws comprising two hingedly interconnected arcuate jaw segments which when combined in closed position provide a continuous internal contour of semi-circular formation corresponding to the contours of a bottle, and resilient means normally urging said jaw segments to open condition whereby when said jaws are moved away from each other said semi-circular formation is opened to constitute two centrally connected arcuate segments with said central connection point extending inwardly of said formation, said extended central point on each jaw formation being the first point adapted to engage the surface of a bottle placed between said jaws as they are moved towards each other, the advance of said jaws into contact with a bottle being adapted to overcome said resilient means and close said jaws to said semi-circular formation, said combined jaws in closed position meeting centrally along a diametric center line so as to completely surround said bottleneck and crimp a deformable capsule placed thereon into sealing contact therewith.

6. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said jaws are each provided with a flexible pad of resilient material mounted on and extending over the internal surface of both of said interconnected jaw segments.

7. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the interior of said flexible pads is hollow and air pressure means are connected into each of said pads.

8. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including supplementary slide plates, mounted within and transaxially of said jaw segments adapted to advance beyond the surface of said combined-segments semi-circular formation in closed condition and means to actuate said slide plates.

9. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including a supplementary slide plate mounted on one of said interconnected jaw segments of each of said pair of jaws, said slide plate being disposed at one terminal end of said combined segments internal arcuate contour and in axial alignment therewith, said slide plates on said opposed jaws being located at diametrically opposite points when said jaws are closed in opposed relationship, and means to actuate said slide plates.

10. An apparatus for crimping deformable sealing capsules about the neck of a bottle, comprising in combination, a pair of opposed crimping jaws mounted on supporting standards for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other relative to a predetermined center line and in a substantially horizontal plane, each of said crimping jaws being made up of a pair of opposed jaw halves having arcuate inner and outer surfaces and being centrally and hingedly connected one to the other, each pair of said interconnected jaw halves being hingedly mounted on a jaw supporting block having an internal configuration corresponding to the external configuration of said combined j-aw halves, resilient means between said block inner surface and said combined jaw halves outer surface at the hinge point of said jaw halves whereby said jaw halves are normally urged outward at said hinge connection point so that the central portion of the inner arcuate conformation of said combined jaws extends outwardly of the arc of said conformation when said jaws are in open position, a flexible pad of resilient material mounted on each of said opposed sets of jaw halves and conforming with the arcuate contour of the combined inner surface of said jaws, and reciprocal slide means connected to each of said jaw supporting blocks whereby said opposed crimping jaws are adapted to engage from each diametrically opposed side and progressively surround a sealing capsule placed on the neck of a bottle disposed in alignment with said predetermined center line, the extended center portion of each of said combined jaw halves first contacting said capsule and through the closing action of said jaws smoothing and crimping the material of said capsule from said first contacted points to diametrically opposed points.

11. An apparatus for crimping deformable sealing capsules as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flexible pads mounted on said combined jaw halves are hollow and an air pressure conduit is connected into each of said pads hollow interior.

12. An apparatus for crimping deformable sealing capsules as claimed in claim 10, including a centrally located sliding portion in each of said crimping jaws, said sliding portion comprising two hingedly interconnected segments mounted for restricted sliding movement transaxially of and between said combined jaw halves, the front surface of said combined sliding segments corresponding to the contour of said jaw halves internal surface and being adapted to extend beyond said surface when said jaw halves are in closed position, and means on each of said jaw supporting blocks adapted to extend said segments.

13. An apparatus for crimping deformable capsules as claimed in claim 10, including a slide plate mounted within each of said jaw-s for restricted sliding movement, said slide plates being mounted Within one of said jaw halves in axial alignment with one terminal end of said jaw internal arcuate contour, the slide plate on one jaw being located at a point diametrically opposite to the slide plate on the other of said jaws.

14. An apparatus for crimping deformable metal foil capsules about the neck of a bottle comprising, a pair of opposed crimping jaws mounted for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other in a substantially horizontal plane, each of said opposed jaws having inner surfaces comprising segments of semi-circu1ar conformation with a central point projecting in advance of said conformation when said jaw segments are in open position, said jaw segments when combined in closed position providing an internal contour of circular conformation corresponding to the external contours of a bottle, a resilient lining in each of said jaws inner surfaces adapted to engage a capsule covering the upper surface of a bottle placed between said jaws as they are moved towards each other, the advance of said jaws into contact with the bottle being adapted to first bring said jaw segments central points into diametrically opposed contact with said bottle and to compress said resilient lining whereby said jaws meet centrally along a diametric center line opposed to said first jaw contact points and References Cited in the file of this: patent FOREIGN PATENTS 884,160 Germany July 23, 1953 

